The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1887-07-14

%E@F - - ~ US stS W. NJ"
ever happen TO hear OF M English
gentleman called Cecil Finchw
Eyes, SIR" said the butler. II think
l have heard you mention his name,
sir. at dinner, d night or two ago."
''Havc YOU ever seen him P"
Eyes, : Fin Wyoming, SIR"
ut would be a good thing for him.
Parkins," said Mr.. Madison, careless
ly, IF you could find him."
'How so. sir ?" asked the young
man. changing his color Il little.
'He has just come into his uncle's
title and estate; and he can't be
found"
"By Jove! Is Lord Grimsmead
dead ?" cried the butler, in a voice
very different from his usual guarded
me-.
Before he had time to pull himself
together and apologize, Mr.. Madison
bounced upon him. .
"Look here, Mr.. Finch !" he said,
quite sternly, you are no butler !
Your name isn't Parkins! why did
you lie to me ?"
mo, Mr.. Madison" said the man,
II AM not a butler, and my name isn't
Parkins, and lie is not a word to use
among gentlemen -
"But, hang it, Parkins, Finch,
whatever you are, I can't realize quite
yet that you are not what I thought
you five minutes ago. And I think I
have a perfect right to know why you
have imposed on me in this way" said
MI. Madison, still irate.
"Of course you have" said Mr..
Finch, late John Parkins. "The story
is simply this. 1 was pretty we'll down
on my luck after having tried ranching
and failed, as many a cleverer man
than I am has done before. I was too
proud to 90 home. There was no one
of whom l could borrow, and I hadn't
the paper, and applied for the situa-
ton. [ hadn't an idea that you'd take
me, but | was touched by your conf
dence, Mr.. Madison, and I've done the
very best 1 could for you. I remem
bered the old butler at home, and I
tried to model myself on him.
"The other night you thought, no
doubt, that I was drunk. I wasn't;
but the man who sat next to Mrs. Mad
ison was a fellow who knew me we'll at
Oxford, ten years ago."
Both men had been standing while
they talked. Madison read candor and
integrity in the handsome face of the
other.
'Sit down, Mr.. Finch" he said,
"and tell me the rest"
Il would rather stand, thank you,"
said Finch. How do you know that
I'm telling you the truthP Is my Ok
ford friend. in town YETI"
Il believe so," said MI. Madison.
"Will you 60 there with me and get
me identified" asked Finch. Then he
added smiling a little, Il believe I've
got n pretty decent coat"
About six o'clock the ladies came
home. The parlor was full of spring
twilight.
"Why are no lamps lighted ? asked
Mrs. Madison. Where's Parkins ? I
never knew him to be so careless"
She rang the bell sharply. It was
answered by her maid.
'sWhere is Parkins p' Mrs. Madison
demanded.
Gone out, MAN., with Mr.. Madi-
son. sad the maid, demurely.
with Mr.. Madisonp How extraor-
binary !"
HE said he might not come back"
said the maid. rather enjoying Mrs.
Madison's surprise.
Sylvia then entered.
"The table isn't set and l can't find
Parkins anywhere" she said.
When the lady's maid withdrew, the
sisters expressed themselves more free
ly.
"Always the way with my buffers! Is
this frightful servant-hunt going to be-
begin again?' moaned Mrs. Madison.
"And really he was a man one could
have loved, if he hadn't been a but
ler," sighed Miss Arden,
Presently Mr.. Madison returned
alone, Without giving his wife time
for indignant questions, he said
'Parkins wanted to come back and
serve his dinner, but l wouldn't let
him." ~
And pray why not ?" asked his
wife. What has he done %
HE has gone and got himself a title,
and l thought that a dinner handed
round by my Lord Grimsmead would
choke us all.
The next day Lord Grimsmead, for
merly Cecil Finch alas John Parkins,
modestly requested a few moments
conversation with Mrs. Madison.
She was less at her ease than he.
II wanted to come back last n chit,
Mrs. Madison" he said, coming for
ward, without extending his hand,
''but your husband would not hear of
it. Il am sorry that your proverbial bad
luck with buffers has not been chang
ed by me. l sail tomorrow, and I fear
that you must supply my place, (which
will be easily done"
''Ihere you make q mistake" she
answered, motioning him to a chair.
''You were the very incest servant I
ever had in the house"
And then they both laughed long and
heartily.
MAY I see Miss Arden before I gop''
he asked presently, with a decided
deepening of his color.
Mrs. Madison said, Certainly" and
in a few moments Sylvia entered. He
rose and gave her his chair, and she
could not but notice how the obsequi-
Gus alacrity of the butler had given
way to the we'll bred manner Of the
English gentleman.
II want to say before I co." he said,
almost brokenly, that l thank you for
the happiest and most innocent months
Of my life. Ihave had constant kindness
from you both, and I hope you will all
come to, England some day, that I may
do something for you in return. !
should like to show you the old park.
1t will be full of primroses in a few